The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-11-23
" Blessed Old Maid"

ItIt 10 lO OllCl way, Nldlds l.
am the only relative she has left, and
we must invite her here for the winter,
anyhow. She and John stayed with
father and mother while / was roaming
here and there. Now they are all gone,
Martha's alone and it's no more than
right for me to look out for her awhile.
III write Immediately"
Yes, Nathan; that is right, know,
but l can't help dreading it. l always
had horror of old maids " and Mrs.
Tracy looked nervously around the
plain kitchen of the little farm house.
''You needn't be afraid of Martha :;
she isn't very old, and, venture to say
none of the prying, disagreeable old
maids we read Of"
->~1n spite of his reassuring words Mrs.
Tracy dreaded the arrival of her hus-
bands maiden sister, whom he had
not seen since the day he left his New
England home to try his fortune in the
new West.
But, as Clara soon discovered, there
was nothing to fear from the quiet. sad
faced woman who came to them, whose
life had been so full of devotion to
others and noble self-sacrifice, that
there had been no time for growing
hard and bitter because some of life's
sweetest blessings had been denied her.
The children-Bert and Mable and
baby Ray-with the unerring instinct of
childhood, felt the depth of her quiet
kindliness and took her at once into
their loving little hearts.
Miss Tracy, although wholly unob-
trusive, was naturally very observant.
This, together with the interest she
felt in her brothers. family, led her be-
fore she had been many weeks an in
mate of his house to make discovery.
Nathan in his desire to get on in
the world was missing much that
would have made life pleasant. In
thinking so constantly of the future
he was losing all the sweetness of the
present. That this was affecting the
whole family was only too apparent
1t was seen in Clara's anxious, weary
face, and repeated in less degree upon
the countenances of their children.
There seemed to be no rest for any
of them; no relaxation in the struggle
for existence; nothing to vary the
wearing monotony of everyday labor,
which, like some huge Juggernaut
was crushing beneath its wheels all
that might have made life sweet and
pleasant.
Martha shrank from interfering with
the habits of her brothers. family; bu
looking ahead she saw nothing but
sorrow and disappointment, and fell
that something must be done to save
them.
Watching for an opportunity to tall
alone with Nathan, she gladly accepted
his invitation one morning to ride with
him"to town.
They were rolling rapidly over The
level prairie road when Martha broke
the silence.
g 1t is truly eXhilarating to ride il
this bracing air, over these fine roads
especially with so nice rig as you
call it. The buggy is easy and thu
horses really fine animals. You mus
be doing well, Nathan"
81 suppose | am, Martha; but il
has been hard pull, with losing crops
sickness, etc. We're in debt yet, blu
with hard work and economy l guess
we can make it up in another year."
Then what will come neXtn'
| intend to have nice large BARI
and some choice cattle; then l shall
build a good house and prepare to TAX
comfort"
g But who will share it all with you?'
Why, my family, of counsel" open
ing his eyes wide with establishment.
g All except Clara, you mean," sol
EMMY.
Why, Martha, how you talk! 1t i
for her Pm working-who else, I'd lik
to know?"
Now, Nathan, just take few plail
words from your sister, who means onl
kindness. I've had experience, and il
my judgment Clara hasn't vitalit
enough to take her through anothe
year of hard work. / have your inter
ests at heart, and would not needless
arouse your fears, but | am convince,
that your wife is wearing out. Sh
must rest from this constant labor o
your children will soon be motherless.
I" Don't, Martha, talk in that way
Clara is as well as usual. She was a
ways slender and delicate. I'd gladl
have kept her in ease, but she kneN
she married a poor man and was will
ing to work up" He was little an
noyed.
&" | doubt not you have been kind an
good to her, and now that she ha
helped work up so far / know yo
will be glad to give her vacation
You do not realize what it is to car
for three children and do all the wor
that must be done in farmhouse. Sh
might have been slender when cir
but not careworn. Tonight if yo
will look at one of her old pictures yo
will be convinced / am right"
"Suppose | am; what them"
Z" How much would it cost to sen
her back to Ohio for the winter?
can keep house."
Simply out of the question. 81
wouldn't go anyhow, Martha"
g / thought you didn't know it; bl
she is as homesick as child to see h,
father and mother. She hasn't said s.
she never complains, but an unutte
able longing fills her eyes and quiz
tears when she speaks of them. Su
of your consent and nv Willinpne